Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 44 - Taniel

Another day passed that Scooter struggled. Rowan's mood turned darker, and she grew introspective and irritable. Taniel had taken to avoiding her at all costs. Being lashed at wasn't on his list of priorities right now.

Her mood was beginning to affect Taniel. He knew that she must be itching to save Olive. They danced around each other in the apartment - the tension still high. His guilt overwhelmed him, but so did the need to be near her. In a few short months he had gone from worrying about himself to revolving around another person. Always Rowan.

He lowered himself to the ground, his chest an inch from the floor and pushed up with a quick breath. Another fifty and he would be set for the day. Then again, he could just keep going to avoid her. To have a moment to keep his thoughts to himself.

After the first snow had fallen in Fenesmere, the loft was permanently cold. Usually Taniel could work up a minor sweat during his routine, but recently the apartment had been warm. Almost too warm. Scooter probably fixed one of the radiator pipes, Taniel though as sweat dripped off his nose.

"No matter how hard you work, you'll never be as ripped as me." Taniel ignored Scooter as he took a sip of water.

"Which way to the gun show?" When Scooter flexed his muscles, the hem of his shirt rose to expose the belt loops of his jeans and an inch of skin. It was enough for Taniel to notice the gun tucked into the band of his jeans.

"Self love was never something you lacked. Where did you get the gun?"

"Same place as the knives and the batons. I wasn't going to bring it, but considering I haven't, you know, shown any other capacity to help..."

Taniel clapped him on the back. "Don't stress it. It could have been singing in multiple languages for all we know."

Scooter grunted his annoyance and followed Taniel to the kitchen as he refilled his water bottle. "Listen," Scooter said. "I think we need to return to the Underground. Tonight. If I have to sit in this loft for another day while Rowan sulks I am going to go crazy."

"I don't blame you." She had been worrying him too. "How's the leg feeling?"

"Never better."

"I'm going to go freshen up. Why don't you go tell her?"

"Ugh, I was hoping you could do it. I don't want to go near her like this."

"Scooter, it's not like she bites." Scooter glared at him meaningfully. "Your choice, your conversation." Taniel hoped Scooter couldn't hear the fake cheerfulness in his voice, even though it was painfully obvious to him. A takedown of the Underground was a terrifying prospect. He didn't want Rowan to be in that situation again. Ever.

But Scooter was right - they needed her. Taniel needed her.

****

The tunnels were dark, and colder than he remembered. Against personal preference, they opted to leave a few layers behind in favor of flexibility and ease of movement. He could feel Rowan trying to control her tremors beneath his hand on her back. Fear or cold? It had be the cold, he thought as he clamped his jaw tight to prevent his teeth from chattering.

The walk was faster this time. It was clear the trio was more comfortable following each other in the dark. Scooter managed to trip only once. Together, Taniel and Scooter had looked at the map of the Underground before they left. He had a vague idea of which direction they were now headed, but only Rowan knew these tunnels in the dark.

Her gift had proven so much more valuable than his own, and he couldn't help but feel a pinch of bitter resentment for it. The dreams had condemned him, and without something useful, he couldn't keep her safe. It seemed as if he only created the problems. He shook his head. These thoughts weren't going to help him today. He needed to stay focused.